PITY THE CHILD WARRIORS.

Whenever I hear news involving young combatants of the terrorist communist operating in our region, I can’t help but pity those youngsters who have been deceived by the wicked propaganda of the terrorist movement. These ruthless communists who think nothing but the survival of their evil movement exploited their youthful innocence and utilized them in a dangerous war, a situation that that they should not be on the first place.
The recent arrest of child warriors of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Samar have proven once again that the communist terrorist still continue using children as armed combatants. The 5 rescued child warriors clearly manifest the terrorist movement’s use of children in armed conflict, which is contrary to the international laws on the welfare of children.
And to add insult to injury, the prophet of doom of the terrorist movement, Ex-priest Santiago Salas, even issued a press statement claiming that the Army illegally arrested the minors and even demanding for their immediate release. He even told that, “As the Communist Party of the Philippines has explained to the United Nations Children's Fund or Unicef last April 2006, the revolutionary movement that is intent on overthrowing the rotten ruling system certainly does not use children as combatants but in fact safeguards their rights and fights for them to have a new and brighter tomorrow,” As if the communists do really care for our youths.

That is their PROPAGANDA LINE. THEY DO NOT RECRUIT CHILDREN! We might as well ask the people from Brgy Denigpi-an in Dolores, Eastern Samar. Sometimes in 2003, two sisters aged 16-14 years old, were recruited by the NPAs operating in the hinterlands of Dolores, Eastern Samar. During my consultation with the barangay officials and their grieving parents, I can still recall how the mother cried seeking for our help to have her daughters back. I sought the help of some of my friends in the broadcast and print media. After landing the headlines in a local newspaper and a week of bombardment at Radyo diwa about the recruitment of the sisters, the terrorists returned the two female minors to their parents. But not without a stern warning that they should not tell the Army about it or suffer the consequences. And there are more similar untold stories… remain untold for their fear of brutal reprisal from the terrorist movement.

But one thing I have noticed during those sorrowful times, I haven’t heard any investigation, denunciation, of sorts from the so called ‘Human rights advocates’- the likes of KATUNGOD-SB, PCPR, SAGUPA-SB, etc, were silent on this issues of genuine and great concern. They failed to show the same enthusiasm they demonstrate, whenever the issue is against the military or the government as a whole.

The survival of the terrorist movement lies on their success to recruit youngsters. At this point of high level of consciousness of the populace on the evil deeds of the CPP-NPA-NDF, through the concerted efforts of the Army, the local government units, government agencies, and NGOs/POs, they were left with only the youth to deceive. The innocent bloods of the betrayed youth were utilized to fuel their dying, lost cause.

The wanton deceptive recruitment of minors of the CPP-NPA-NDF through the years will continue if we will do nothing.

In this regard, I wanted to express our gratitude to Mr. Rudy Gad and Ms. Nimfa Oquiño, Principal and CAT Coordinator of Basey National High School, respectively. The appreciation was for their caring concern on the welfare of their students by initiating the Symposium of Peace and Order held last October 10, 2006 at their multi-purpose hall. We are hoping that we have conveyed the desired knowledge to our audience aimed on protecting our youth from the deceptive recruitment of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

We are currently making the rounds at schools trying to educate as much students as we can. For as I quote one of the popular saying now a days that ‘For evil to succeed, it means good people will do nothing.’